The Best Gaming PC Builds Under $2000

Modern gaming PCs can come in all shapes and sizes, offering varying levels of utility to end users depending on the titles they wish to play. Not all gaming PCs are built equally, and one’s needs and respective budgets might not match up with most pre-built PCs on the market. It is therefore nearly always better to build a gaming PC in terms of cost, flexibility, and customization potential.

When one is considering a $2000 gaming PC build, they are ideally targeting 2K resolution gaming, since most 4k-ready games will see them easily push past the $3k mark because of the premium hardware required to sustain a stable high frame rate at that resolution. If users are targeting a Full HD resolution, most $1000 gaming PCs will help them achieve that easily, leaving plenty of options for gamers browsing within that lower price range.

Updated on August 3rd, 2024, By Rahim Amir: All 3 builds have been updated with more balanced components, accounting for new pricing for CPUs, GPUs, and SSDs.

What Do Users Need To Build A Gaming PC

When considering whether to build a gaming PC or purchase a pre-built alternative, gamers need to focus on these particular components (not necessarily in the order below) and think about how they will work together to ensure they get the best value out of their gaming system:

• CPU/Processor
• GPU/Graphics Card
• Motherboard
• RAM Modules
• SSDs/Alternate Storage
• CPU Cooler (Some CPUs do come bundled with a cooler)
• Power Supply Units (PSUs)
• PC Cases
• Case Fans/Lighting (The latter for aesthetics only)

What Gaming PC Build Should I Get?

We have divided our build guides into multiple tiers to allow users to choose the best build possible, while also catering to different budget and performance classes:

Game Rant’s Top 3 Gaming PC Build Suggestions Under $2,000

Best Overall Gaming PC Build Under $2000

• 

  AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
  

  $377 $449 Save
  $72

  The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is AMD’s latest and greatest CPU when it comes to gaming. With an excellent and highly efficient gaming performance that tops the charts currently, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is here to stay and has a crown to claim thanks to its 3D V-Cache-enabled prowess when it comes to gaming on a PC.

  The octa-core CPU currently happens to be the fastest in the business for gaming even as it leads efficiency charts at the top, making it a very sought-after gaming upgrade.

• 

  Corsair H100x RGB Elite Liquid CPU Cooler
  

  Corsair H100x RGB Elite brings a gorgeous 240mm AIO design with customizable ARGB lighting on both fans and the CPU block. With flexible tubing, the block can be installed in any orientation and poses no clearance issues. Compatible with the latest intel and AMD platforms, the H100x RGB Elite serves as a wonderful mid-range AIO cooler for overclocking.

• 

  G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB (AMD Expo)
  

  G.SKILL Trident Z5 Neo RGB series is a specialized RAM kit for the AM5 platform with up to 6000 MT/s speed. The RAM kit brings exceptional RGB lighting on top of the heat spreaders and works at low latency. It’s decently stable at the advertised speed and makes an ideal choice for gaming builds. 

• 

  Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi
  

  Asus TUF Gaming B650 Plus Wi-Fi brings Tuf grade components for high durability and has large heatsinks for effective passive cooling. The motherboard provides full support for CPU and memory overclocking on a budget and comes with plenty of connectivity ports. While best for budget and mid-range Ryzen CPUs, it can also support overclocking higher-end CPUs as well.

• 

  Samsung 990 EVO SSD 1TB
  

  The Samsung 990 EVO SSD is a PCIe 5.0 compatible 1 TB storage drive that brings speeds that are not the fastest in the industry, but still at the peak of the PCIe 4.0 standard. It is capable of up to 5,000 MB/s read and 4,200 MB/s write speeds. It uses V-NAND TLC technology and is rated for 600TB TBW. 

• 

  MSI Gaming RTX 4070 Ti Super 16G Gaming X Slim
  

  The MSI RTX 4070 Ti Super 16G Gaming X Slim is a premium, compact, and overclocked take on Nvidia’s penultimate RTX 4000 series SUPER GPU and it delivers the goods across the board for users impressed by MSI’s extended excellent run with Ada Lovelace-based GPUs.

• 

  MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU
  

  $160 $200 Save
  $40

  The MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU is built from the ground up to support the ATX 3.0 spec while also being PCI-E 5.0 compatible in a fully modular design without costing an arm and a leg unlike some of its nearest competitors, making it a viable contender for a gaming PC.

• 

  HYTE Y60
  

  $150 $180 Save
  $30

  There is no better mid-tower case to show off gaming rigs than the Hyte Y60. With three tempered glass panels, the Y60 case provides a nearly unobstructed view of the components. A dual chamber design enables builders to keep PSUs and cables tucked behind motherboards to avoid interfering with other components. The Y60 ships ready to vertically mount graphics cards with an included PCIe riser cable. Even with solid glass panels, the case still promotes airflow with extensive vents that wrap around the right side, top, and back of the chassis.

The gaming PC above focuses on delivering a balanced package that does well in most games in 2024. It does so by leveraging the powerful AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU, which offers an extended L3 cache in addition to capable Zen 4 cores, making it the fastest gaming CPU in play currently. To allow it to perform to spec, it is paired with G.Skill’s Trident Z5 Neo RAM kit that comes with a compatible AMD EXPO overclocking profile out of the box.

On the GPU end of the equation, the capable MSI RTX 4070 Ti SUPER Gaming X Slim offers 16GB of VRAM and performance that considerably eclipses previous generation offerings while doubling down on DLSS3 performance thanks to its upgraded architecture. With a value-centric SSD pick in the shape of the Samsung 990 EVO and a capable mid-range motherboard from ASUS with Wi-Fi built-in, the PC offers plenty of expansion potential and can be upgraded in the future to a more productivity-centric CPU.

It comes with a 1000W, PCI-E 5.0 and ATX 3.0 capable PSU from MSI, HTYE’s popular Y60 case offering that can be modified with an LCD panel, and a capable Corsair H100X cooler in what is arguably a fairly balanced package in terms of airflow, price, and aesthetics alike, making for a well-rounded gaming PC in 2024.

Note: This PC comes with an RTX 4070 Ti SUPER GPU that qualifies for Nvidia’s ongoing Black Myth: Wukong giveaway at participating retailers.

Total Estimated Cost: $2,000-2050

Best Productivity-Centric Gaming PC Under $2000

• 

  AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900X3D 12-Core, 24-Thread Desktop Processor
  

  $340 $599 Save
  $259

  The AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900X3D 12-Core, 24-Thread Desktop Processor is the 12-core version of its X3D refresh across 3 of the Ryzen 7000 series processors that see it stack 3D V-Cache on one of the two 6-core CCUs in a bid to repeat the success that was the 5800X3D on a resurgent Ryzen 7000 lineup.

• 

  MSI MAG Coreliquid E360 AIO Liquid Cooler
  

  $120 $136 Save
  $16

  The MSI MAG CoreLiquid E360 AIO is a value-packed liquid cooler with a rotating water blockhead and three 120 mm ARGB fans. This cooling system benefits from an enlarged copper base which maximizes contact with CPUs for amplified heat exchange. The radiator also utilizes a split pathway design to distribute warm and cold liquid more effectively. Thanks to a water pump with a three-phase motor, the MAG CoreLiquid E360 can balance its cooling power with noise levels and avoid excess vibrations. 

• 

  G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO Series (AMD Expo) 64GB Kit CL30
  

  The G. Skill Trident Z5 NEO sticks are a pair of 32GB RAM sticks that conform to AMD’s more stringent EXPO memory requirements for overclocking. With tight timings and a CAS latency of just 30-40-40-96.

  With a subtle RGB effect and a premium feel, the Trident Z Neo is one of the best premium RGB RAM sticks money can buy that is designed for AMD-based systems.

• 

  Gigabyte X670E Aorus Pro X
  

  Boasting a fully white PCB and white heatsinks, the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Pro X looks dashing. It features an excellent 16+2+2 power phase delivery and doesn’t lag behind in component compatibility or connectivity. Four M.2 slots for fast storage and impressive memory support allow the board to push the system’s full potential.

• 

  Samsung 990 PRO SSD 2TB
  

  $170 $250 Save
  $80

  The Samsung 990 PRO is a top-tier solid-state drive designed for exceptional performance, featuring significant speed enhancements over its predecessor. It offers a massive boost in random read and write speeds that are 40% and 55% faster than the 980 PRO.

  In addition, it provides high input/output operations per second (IOPS) up to 1400K/1550K, and sequential read and write speeds that reach up to 7,450 and 6,900 MB/s, approaching the maximum performance of PCIe 4.0. This SSD is not only high-performing but also energy-efficient. It provides up to 50% improved performance per watt over the 980 PRO.

• 

  XFX Radeon RX 7900XT GPU
  

  $701 $800 Save
  $99

  The XFX Radeon RX 7900XT is based on AMD’s latest and most powerful graphics chips. The AMD RX 7900 XT is powered by the new RDNA 3 architecture, which delivers AI acceleration, a new AMD Radiance display engine, and a Chiplet design. There’s also an improved 2nd generation of ray-tracing and AMD Infinity Cache features.

  This specific XFX GPU features 20 gigabytes of graphics memory on a 320-bit memory interface, a clock speed of 2560 MHz, and a powerful triple fan cooling solution.

• 

  MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU
  

  $160 $200 Save
  $40

  The MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU is built from the ground up to support the ATX 3.0 spec while also being PCI-E 5.0 compatible in a fully modular design without costing an arm and a leg unlike some of its nearest competitors, making it a viable contender for a gaming PC.

• 

  LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 PC Case
  

  The LANCOOL 216 is a mid-tower case with all-around mesh panels for optimal airflow. Thanks to its modular rear panel, it can be optimized for air or water cooling. It includes 2 x 160mm and 1 x 140mm pre-installed PWM fans and an innovative rear PCIe fan bracket to maximize airflow.

For those users intending to game but needing more processing power under the hood, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D offers slightly lower performance than the 7800X3D above but makes up for it with 4 additional cores on offer. This makes it a much more agreeable offering for power users and productivity users alike.

With a beefed-up, tri-fan AIO from MSI in play to keep it cool and a higher-end motherboard to allow for more I/O, including more PCI-E lanes and access to Wi-Fi 7, plus plenty of NVMe slots (thanks to Gigabyte’s well-priced, but slightly hard-to-find X670E Aorus Pro X), this PC rises to the occasion for gamers and creators alike. The suggested XFX RX 7900XT offers excellent performance as well as 20GB of VRAM under the hood in addition to 64GB of low-latency G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo DDR5 RAM.

On the storage front, 2TB of PCI-E 4.0 is in play by Samsung via its fastest PCI-E 4.0 SSD on the market, the 990 Pro. All of this is powered by a capable 1000W Gold-rated PSU from MSI that also supports the upcoming PCI-E 5.0 GPUs and their respective connectors out of the box. Last, but not least, the Lian Li Lancool 216 offers plenty of expansion options, airflow, and aesthetics for a price that keeps the PC at a just barely over a $2000 price tag currently.

Total Estimated Cost: $2,100-2150

Best Premium GPU-Centric Gaming PC Under $2000

• 

  Intel Core i5 14600KF 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU
  

  $293 $295 Save
  $2

  The Intel Core i5 14600KF 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU is a powerful mid-range CPU that replaces the last generation Intel Core i5 13600KF with higher clocks on both its performance and efficiency cores.

  Like all its siblings, it does offer better performance out-of-the-box versus its predecessors but replaces them at the same price points they sold last year. Unlike the Intel Core i5 14600K, this model trades at a small discount thanks to it skipping out on integrated graphics.

• 

  EK AIO Nucleus CR360 Lux D-RGB
  

  EK AIO Nucleus CR360 Lux D-RGB stands as one of the most popular 360mm AIOs for providing excellent value for the money. Its big 360mm radiator is capable of keeping thermal throttling in intensive overclocking sessions and the digital RGB lighting on the fans and CPU block lightens up the chassis from inside.

• 

  CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 6400MHz 32GB
  

  $108 $130 Save
  $22

  Corsair’s Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM kit features dual RAM modules, each having 16GB memory capacity. It has built-in XMP 3.0 profiles, offering a blend of a high-rated frequency, low latency, and a reasonable price tag in tow.

  For aesthetics, the RAM sticks look gorgeous as a result of the RGB LEDs on top of its dedicated aluminum heat spreaders.

• 

  MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi
  

  $250 $300 Save
  $50

  MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX Wi-Fi is designed to take the CPU’s potential to the next level without breaking the bank. With its 16+1+1 phase VRM design that is complemented by large heatsinks to control thermals, it can offer decent overclocking potential without pushing its price out of control.

  With Wi-Fi 7 support and plenty of I/O on offer, the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX Wi-Fi is a great motherboard to pair with both the latest 14th-generation CPUs that it supports out of the box as well as older last-generation contenders.

• 

  Kingston NV2 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD
  

  This internal solid-state drive from Kingston has 1 TB of digital storage capacity. The NV2 series SSD is designed to be compatible with laptops. It operates on PCIe 4.0 Gen 4×4 technology, features an M.2 2280 form factor, and delivers read speeds of up to 3,500 MB/s. It has lower power requirements, generating minimal heat, which makes it perfect for compact devices.

• 

  ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 SUPER OC
  

  $1070 $1100 Save
  $30

  The ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 SUPER OC is an excellent aftermarket take on the RTX 4080 SUPER, offering a higher boost clock than the stock option even as it clocks in an additional $100 on MSRP. It offers excellent reliability, power delivery, and one of the best aftermarket coolers one can get for Nvidia’s higher-end RTX 4000 series GPUs.

• 

  Thermaltake GF1 (2024) Fully Modular ATX 850W Power Supply
  

  The updated Thermaltake GF1 850W PSU is a gold-rated PSU that offers a completely modular solution for gamers looking for a reliable solution that can keep up with some of the most demanding PCs in 2024.

  It comes with comprehensive protection for users, excellent build quality, quiet operation and an extensive warranty from Thermaltake in tow.

• 

  Lian Li O11 Vision
  

  The most stunning-looking addition to the Lian Li O11 series of cases yet, the Vision mid-tower case features tempered glass on three sides of the enclosure. With a unique dual-chamber design, a PSU and cables are hidden behind a removable, adjustable motherboard tray. Because of the O11 Vision’s modular nature, builders have plenty of cooling options, including support for up to two 360 mm liquid cooling radiators and 11 fans. To maintain constant airflow into and out of the case, the chassis is raised further off a surface with extensive venting on its bottom panel. 

For users needing a more GPU-intensive approach in 2024 for their gaming needs, the capable Intel Core i5 14600KF offers acceptable performance gains versus its predecessor, while leveraging a mature LGA 1700 socket that limits upgrade options in the future. The build uses 32GB of Corsair’s Vengeance DDR5 sticks with an XMP profile of 6400 MT/s while compromising on its storage options to make way for a more expensive GPU, opting for an entry-level PCI-E 4.0 NVMe from Kingston instead.

The ASUS TUF RTX 4080 Super OC takes up the lion’s share of the budget of this gaming PC, but offers the highest performance tier for a GPU in a PC build under $2000 currently, versus any of its competitors. To power this, an 850W PSU from Thermaltake is in play, as is the aesthetically pleasing Lian Li O11 Vision case. All of this is built around an MSI Z790 Tomahawk Max that offers out-of-the-box support for newer Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs and Wi-Fi 7 under the hood.

Note: The build’s Intel Core i5 14600KF comes with a free bundled copy of Star Wars: Outlaws as part of an ongoing promotion for Intel’s 14th-generation chips. This PC also comes with an RTX 4080 SUPER GPU that qualifies for Nvidia’s ongoing Black Myth: Wukong giveaway at participating retailers.

Total Estimated Cost: $2,100-2150

FAQ

Q: Is A $2000 PC Good For Gaming?

If you are looking to game at resolutions at 1440p or 1080p at high refresh rates $2,000 is an excellent budget. These components should also keep up with gaming trends for at least 3 years so you won’t have to worry about replacing anything anytime soon.

Q: Is It Cheaper To Build A Gaming PC?

Building a PC yourself is a great way to save on a variety of products on sale. It also provides more fine-grained control over the components one needs for a build.

Prebuilt PCs charge a building fee most of the time, so you can pick up PC parts for close to the same price most PC building companies can, and you save the cost of building.

You just have to be comfortable putting the components together, but with the amount of build guides available today it is easier than ever to build your own PC.